I am looking for resources about the construction of a fishing/smimming/boating dock to be constructed on a 6 acre lake now under construction. The owner would like posts and footing installed before the lake fills with water.
Has anyone had any experiences or any literature? Your help is needed and appreciated.
…………………………………..Iron Helix
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Replies
Follansbee is major manufacture of components for docks and has a catalog and a some basic design info.
http://www.follansbeedocks.com/
What part of the country are you in. In am in Missouri and while the we do get ice it is not sever and the docks are left in place. In MN they remove the docks in the winter to keep them from being crushed.
Amazon has two books on building docks, but I have not seen either.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0970293909/qid=1030328759/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5146402-3554552?s=books
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1580170986/qid=1030328759/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-5146402-3554552?s=books
If the level is expect to stay constant you can make a stationary dock, which it sound like you are thing of. Just build a deck, but with the post on the lake bottom.
For a floating dock it is mainly a rim joist, the joist and floation under it. With either guide post into the ground and/or a cables to the shore with a ramp to hold it in place.
Im not sure if you're seeking construction details or design resources - here's a pict of a pier at a friends house which is has some desirable features - a defined shallow beach, bench, boat dock facility, raft which will tie off in different positions, ladder, etc - pict was taken during a lull in the recent renovation - bench details are changed among other things - we have spent time here as our kids have grown, there's been three renovations in the last 20 years - the basic design hs worked well - cedar posts set on concrete pads for the outer 2 sets, the first two sets set in holes, decks of native hickory lasts 5-7 years - pt framing has lasted 20 years, none in continous water contact, dont know abut treatment leaching into water, do you? - new raft deck is treated but not green, not sure if it's CCA or what -
edited to say that the raft is floating at an angle where the boat is lounging - often/usually it resides off the front of the pier -
Edited 8/25/2002 11:09:45 PM ET by David Doud
here's another pict - neither very good, I'm afraid -
6 acre lake ? More like a pond, it would fit into the average NFL stadium. What sort of dock did you have in mind ? In any case, here's a couple of sites to give you some ideas: a couple have plans/books/parts for sale.
http://www.boat-docks.net/Pkits.htm
http://www.technidock.com/
http://www.dexndox.com/dexndox2_022.htm
http://www.dockkit.com/
http://www.tigerboatdocks.com/
http://www.dockmodules.com/
http://www.dockhardware.com/truss.htm
http://buildit.shopalberta.com/cottage.htm
http://www.elite-re-design.net/elite.htm http://www.familyhaven.com/bookstore/boating/1580170986AMUS176636.shtml
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Iron Helix--
Others have already provided better sources than I could regarding design--just want to share a potential future issue. You or the owner might want to check the wetlands and waterways regulations that apply in your state. In mine, Massachusetts, even man-made wetlands can become subject, with exemptions for things such as agriculture, to regulation (read: lengthy and expensive permitting). May wish to "build big" now in order to avoid a future headache. Not anti-tree hugger, served on a conservation commission for five years, but seems that revised saying might be "Every man's home is his castle, but if there's water in the moat (or lake), ConComm owns it". By the way, humorously agree with previous poster, in these parts has to be at least 12 acres to be a "Great Pond" so the proud owner probably doesn't have a lake. The technical difference between the two involves not necessarily size but rather the stratification of water temperatures.
More than enough said,
Rework
Edited 8/26/2002 1:29:25 AM ET by Rework
I spent over an hour in "Search Mode" on the web with no results worth using, before I posted to Breaktime.
It is wonderful to have access to this resource site..............my compliments to all !
And all this info to digest......I'll be busy for a while.
One interesting comment was about the difference between a pond and a lake as determined by stratification.....Can you tell me more, "Rework"?
Locally a pond is a body of water that an egotist thinks he can cast almost to the other side. A lake requires a boat to fish the other side because it would require too much effort to walk there. And the local dozer operator announced that it is a lake because it is over 4 acres. Who knows what egos and hidden prides derives these definitions?
I'll be back with info as this proceeds............thanks!
..............................Iron Helix
Iron Helix--
So the hole I dug myself is already filling with water, and a limnologist ( a lake pro) will soon be by to correct my comments below...
The defining line between a lake and a pond is blurry--especially if one's native tongue is Greek. Our english word was derived from both the Latin "lacus", :"akin to", through Old English "lagu": "sea" and the Greek "lakkos": pond. Admittedly size is the the predominant factor, with most people thinking lakes are generally big enough to have one wind swept shore. However, depth also plays a role: some define ponds as having fully sunlit or vegetated bottoms (here the "kettle ponds" of places like Cape Cod present problems). If a body of water is big enough, then wind sweeping across it will have enough distance, or "fetch", to generate wave action that will disrupt plants trying to root. I went with stratification, the layering of water temperatures, http://www.csuchico.edu/~pmaslin/limno/strat.html, as a good indicator that the hole in the ground is big enough and deep enough to qualify as a lake. "Ponds" are generally held to be on their way, due to vegetation, to becoming dry land. As a third generation italian ditch digger, I hesitate to disagree with the "dozer operator" but his "over four acre" rule seems a bit small. I'll cease and desist now for the water level has passed my mouth, heading for my nose...
Regards,
Rework
Edited 8/26/2002 12:44:26 PM ET by Rework